Aug 27, 2011 12:20 AM

My mum found this beetle today in some broccoli from the shops - the packet said it's from Lincolnshire (I think!) and we're in Glasgow. My parents kept it in a box in case it was a Harlequin ladybird, but it doesn't seem to be that... my googling suggested it might be a false ladybird, but I don't know if you get them in reverse!

Interesting - this is not a ladybird, but the Nitidulid Glischrochilus hortensis. I found this species last year, in a decaying mass of fungal slime in a tree stump. So perhaps best to wash the broccoli well....

Incidentally the origin of Linlolnshire sounds reasonable becasue if you look at the distribution map on the NBN gateway, records are focused on that part of the country.

Thanks very much! We were mostly concerned to find out if it was predatory or would damage the ecosystem here - although there's only one of them so I doubt it! Will find some picnic foods for it to munch on